A cheap home improvement idea: String lights are one of the most affordable forms of lighting for an outdoor space and are well worth the outlay.
“They have a nice clean look, are easy to install, and are built to withstand the elements while living outdoors”.
What’s more, they introduce an overhead element that designers covet to bring scale to the space. To make your lights as energy efficient (and bright) as possible, use LED bulbs

How to avoid a roofing contractor scam – Some guy knocks on your door claiming to have extra roofing material left over from a nearby job, and offers to fix yours for bupkis.
And you know what you get for bupkis, right?
Invariably, the scammer — who especially loves showing up in areas recovering from major storms — takes the money and runs after doing little or no work.
“You always try to give people the benefit of the doubt,” the Bureau’s Felicia Thompson told a local CBS TV station in Arizona. “Not everybody’s bad, but nowadays you just can’t do that.”
No, you can’t. And now that you’ve been forewarned about this particular swindle, read on to learn how to choose the right (reputable) contractor to repair or replace your own roof.
* Make certain they’re insured. If there’s one thing that’s non-negotiable it’s that the contractor carry insurance for all employees and subcontractors — and provide a copy of their certificate for your inspection.
“Actually call the insurance carrier to confirm that they are valid,” Angie’s List advises.
* Run if they suggest this. Did the contractor vying for your business really just claim to be able to handle a storm-related repair, say, without you paying your required insurance deductible? There’s a name for that: insurance fraud, which you want no part of.
* Run even faster if they suggest this. While it’s reasonable for contractors to request a modest down payment before work begins — call it “earnest money” — beware if the figure exceeds 20 percent of the bill’s projected total cost. Should they start talking 50 or even 75 percent, though. . .
“The red flags of possible fraud are fluttering,” the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud’s James Quiggle has warned.